Rat trap



July 1, 1930. c. A. PARRATT RAT TRAP Filed Aug. '7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet. l

ATTOR NEY July l, 1930- c. A. PARRATT 1,769,453

RAT TRAP Filed, Aug. '7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY July 1, 1930.V C. A. PARRA" 1,169,453

RAT TRAP Filed Aug. 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 CA-.ParfmvmoR ATTORNEY Patented July l, 1930 'COLUMBUS A, Vimiami'ifr, or cLEBURNE, TEXAS una'k TRAP A ippiieetie'nffiiea August?, .19259.l "serial Ne. 384,002.

The present invention Vconteinplates thel provision of a self-set and every-ready'trap, and resides in the novel construction,`co1nf bination and arrangement of parts hereinafter claimed. v y

In the drawings formingk part of this application'like numerals of reference yindicate `similar parts inthe-several vieWs,-and Wheretlirough Vthe trap forming the Vsubject matter ofthe present invention:y n Figure 2 isa seetional view'on line 2--2 ofFigurel. of'

Figure 3 'is' a` sectional View on line 3 3 ofFigure j Figure-4 is asectionalview on line 4-4 .of'Figure 3.

Figure 5 Ais ajside elevationvof the trap. Figure 6 is af sectionalvi'eyv o n line 6-6 ofFigurel. ,e Y

The invention i'sfprimarily constructed to trap small animals, and essentially embodies a casing 10 Whichniay be constructed from any suitable material, and also vary in size and configuration :Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. The casing i-s di` vided into f a plurality-of communicating compartments, one of'which .is indicated at 11, located adjacent thebettoin oftheeasing and extendingvacross the entire Width thereof, While- 12 indicates Vanotherl compartment `Which-is arranged vertically as clearly'illustrated in'Figure` 2. The colmpartn'ient` 1.1 hasan entranceopening at each side of the casing, and each opening is controlled by a door13., These doors arel mounted onl a -shaft14vvhich is journaledin the opposed side Walls ofthe casing lOas clearly illustrated in Figure 2, and when in opened position are arranged as illustrated `,in Figure 5.Y

These doors are normally nfiaintained` in their opened position, and are associated with animal actuated ymeans' Which effect a e release of the' doors to'allow tlieinto gravitate to their closed positions in a manner to be presently described.` e

F or this purpose I employ a disk 15 mounted upon the shaft 14, and which disk is formed With a notch 16 to receive a paWl Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view.

17 Whichis pivoted upon thetop ofthe conipertinent yii ee et. i8. The pewi i7r whenl arranged in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, serves toliold the doors 13in their opened position, but this pavvl A17 i-s pivotallyconlnected With the adjacent end of a vertically disposed link 19, the lower end of which is pivotally connected With a tilting `'platform 20 constituting the bottoinofthe compartment 11. Manifestlywhen the animal enters the'compartment 11 and steps upon the platform 20, the latter is depressed thereby elevating the link 19 and releasing the disk 15 from 'thepavvl 17, whereupon the doors A13 move to their closed position. The disk 15 is also Aprovided WithA a notch 21 adaptedy to be engagedby the shoulder 22 formed on a locking lever 23, when lthe doors are moved to theiry closed position, and thereby pre- "vent opening of the doorsunder lany circumstances, Auntil the uanimal reaches a certain position-'Within the trap, through av course which it is forced to follow. After lthe aninial has-entered the compartment-11, and the' doors 13 have been elosed,"thereg i-s no other v`avenue of escape exceptthrough' an opening 24 into the compartment 12 as 'il'- lustrated in Figure 4, and after the yanimal enters this compartment-12, and climbs upivardlytherein, the animal steps upon a pivoted platform 25, suitably cunterbalanced by a Weight 26, and which ,platformA 25 controls the `coinmunieationbetween the compart-ment` 12 andthe eage'27. l

The cage is'preferably constructed from some foraminated material, and as illustrated in Figure 2the cage is provided With an opening 28 at one 'side thereo'f,`which `is'nor- :inally covered or closed bythe normal position of the pivoted 4platform '25, but when the animal steps upon this platform and depresses the latter to the dotted liiie position illustrated in Figure 2, the animal is inanifeeuy eeiivered inte the age 27 eareagii 9 the opening p e The cage 27 lis supported upon a pivted platform 29 suitably eounterbala-,iiced 'by ari adjustable weight 3 0,- uie ile-mai pesitieii er eine platform being Yiiiuetfe'aed in Figure Upea inepeeeieir-ef there ligure vit "vnu be' l tlieplatform 29 and support thelatter in its i 'ftrated-in full V:noted thatA the` casing/ is divided by "a f `curvedfwn-ll or partition 31'. into an additionalA compartment indicated at '32, in:

-j which is` arranged anater containing receptac'le-SS.` Thefcurved Wallgor'partition is.v

.i Vformed lat an appropriate point vWith an opening. 34 normallycov'ered or' closed by an `apron 3,5Idepending".froinA the platform Q9.

. Immediately above the' curved' partition 31 n l is kahinged; door dwhich normally closes i they adjacent" open cmd-iol` the cage V27, .buti

" @this door'is primarily intended yto engage` cally` returned to itsnormalelevated position#V stood,I .desireto have it knownthat VI do scope ofvvhat is claimed.

What I claim is I 5.1." An animal trap comprising afcasing .dividing into a plurality of communicating l "elevated positionas illustra din `lligureil. i rlhis hinged doorSisa ovidedjwith a restricted openingl l37?, and *henthe parts re 'Varran "ed `inj'fthe positionl illustrated `in Figu the Vanimaltrapped within the pag l 'mal Willattempt ,tores-` capethroughlth opening 37,' thereby mov- .ing'th'e `hinged .door 3G tothel position illus- "trated b dotted-` linesinFigure-l.' When Y inthis in, the' platform .29 is released ,gravitate' to the position il-v,

dy lines,` until the open end means vfor automatically locking said 'door movement and; havingl anfentrance openingicommunicating With-another of said compartments', 'a pivoted. platform controlling said communication and. normally cov- ;eringithe entrance to the cage, and adapted rought into registration .vto-beiti'lted-by the, animal tddeliver the latg-w injth rvedvrwallor` ter into thecage, a Water containingrecepi -partitionsflywhereupon theanimal is'degta'cle arranged Within the casing, and -ineans l edgirom thecagej through theopening vwhereby the .animal is delivered to thereofthe Waterfcontaining tank 33and Y l l pressed by the'weight of the animal, f tobe understoodthat theVA Q. An animal-trap comprising..a casing during-"this: operation remainfVV divided 'into a plurality of communicating but \'are-',jautomatically; openedl by I compartments, `orient-.Which has an entrance ctuated incident to the'descent'ofitlie vopening, adoor for said opening meansv yfor .orthis purpose I employ an normally holding said door open;- and anirojects romgthe shaft Vlil, mal Vactuatedto effect release Yofthe door, L Vand termi a"-loopV 39g. ,Arod 40demeans for automatically lockingsaid door pendsv roin fthe platform. 29fvandapasses throiighlthe loop eliitremityv 39,AA the rod ,40 carrying, a collar.L 1 Also Vdepending from` the .platform i Q is; a rodjd -,\vl'iich is terminall connected with thelockinglever 23 f above:reiferred'to,but it Willbe lnoted' upon inspection "FigurejLtliat the ,rodslOandV l2 v respec are loca-tedat opposite sides .ofgfthe pivotmforthe platform 29;; Conselquentlyyvvhen theplatformgbegi s toftilt 4under-the 'Weight of the animal, the ,doors '13 Y- Y .arejo'c urse,\locledintheir close, position, j ,f platform movesin;the manner 'state ll is exerted upon thefrodg 42 therebyrelea ylng the dislrlv fromthe locking Vlevers 2 3, While at. the proper `time the lcoll'yardll carriedbygthe vrodlO strikes` therm 38 to moye it,v from the .position illus-- linesin lFigurel to the position itoccup s by dotted lines in the Vsame ligure, whichm'movement `:of vthe farm turns the shaftf lll "and consequently moves the `doors* 13 toftheirl opened. position. .1inthisy trapis` set *rxofr-,another` operaad'ly.` understood that after, ssasdelvered imm-the Cese 01th@ .Water Containing tank 3?, the

trance opening communicating Withv another :of saldi compartments, a pivoted platform controllingy sa1dcommum cat1on and nor- V andadapted tobe tilted-by the animal to `.deliver the latter into the cage, a Water containing receptacle arranged Within the casing, vmeans whereby the vanimal is delivered to the receptacle froml the cage 'as thelatter is depressed by' the Weight4 ofthe animal, means simultaneously operable to eliect release of-said door,iand means'for automaticallyreopening saidvdoor as said cage isdepressed.

. 3. An` animal trap Vcomprising a casing Vdivided into a plurality of communicating trance openingfa doorA for said opening, .means or'nor'mally holding Lsaid door open andV animal *actuated to `effect release of aV pivotallyfmounte'd platformk supporting said cage, said cagefhaving an 'entrance Y lopening communicating with another s of l not limitmyself to what is' herein illustrated and described, and that such vchanges may be resorted to when desired as `fall Within the ,i D

`compartments,'one of. which. has an entrance opening-,valdoor for said opening, means for when closed, a cagemountedfor pivotal J ceptacle from thef'cage asthe .latter is deg mally.` coveringthe entrance to said cage,

compartments, one of which has ,anv en-` platiormlunder the Weight is automati- While itis Vbelieved that Vfrom-the foregoing description the nature and advan- .l tages of .the'nvention Willbe readily under-l l normally .holding said. door open, andanii mal actuated-to-eflect release of said door,

closed, a 'normally` elevated cage mounted Y yfor pivotal movement-and having an ensaiddoor, meansffor automaticallylocking l said door closed, a normally elevated cage,

f said compartments, a pivoted platform controlling said communication and normally covering the entrance opening to the cage, and adapted to be tilted by the animal to deliver the latter into the cage, a Water `containing receptacle Within the casing, means lwhereby the animal is delivered to the receptacle from the cage as its supporting platform is depressed by the Weight of the animal, means connected With the last mentioned platform for effectingl a'release, of

said door when the platform is depressed,`

and means connected with the platform and actuated thereby for automatically opening said dooras the platform is lowered.

4l. An animal trap comprising a casing divided into a plurality of communicating compartment-s, one of which has an entrance opening, a door for said opening, means for Vnormally `holding said door open, and animal 'actuated to effect release 'of said door, means for automatically locking said door closed, a pivoted'platform, a cage supported upon the platform and having an entrance opening communicating with another of said compartments, a pivoted platform controlling said communication andnormally covering the entrance to said cage, and adapted to be tilted by the animalv to deliver the latter into the cage, means forliolding the first mentioned platform normally elevated and also serving to close the adjacent end of .the cage, a curved partition arranged Within the casing and dividing the latter into an additional compartment, a Water containerarranged in theV last mentioned compartment, said curved'partition having an opening therein arranged above said container, and through Which the animal is delivered from the cage intor said container incident to the movement of said platform in a down- Ward direction, and means for automatically `returning the platform and cage to their closed, a pivoted platform Within said casing, a cage supported on said platform and having an entrance opening communicating With another of said compartments, a

pivoted platform controlling said communication and normally covering the entrance to the cage, and adapted to be tilted by the animal to deliver the latter to the cage, a curved partition arranged Within the casing and dividing the latter into an additional compartment, a` Water 'container arranged mentioned kplatform in an elevated position andclosing the adj acentend of thev cage, and adapted to be opened by thel .animal to effect release of said platform, whereupon the animal is delivered from 4the cage to said Water container'through the opening in said curved partition, means actuated by said platform for effecting release of the first mentioned door, means controlled 'byV said platform for automatically opening s thedoor as theanimal is delivered from said cage, and means for automatically returning c the platform and cage to their normal position.

6. An animal trap comprising a casing divided into a plurality of communicating compartments, one of Which is located adjacent the bottom of the casing and extends across the entire Width thereof, and provides entrance openings at opposite sides of the casing, a door for each opening,fmeans for normally holding said doors open, and animal actuated to effect simultaneous release of said doors,means for locking said doors When closed, a cage mounted for pivotal movement and having an entrance opening communicating With Vanother of saidy compartments, a'pivoted platformcontrolling said communication and normally covering r the entrance to the cage, and adapted ,toy be tilted by the animal to deliver the latter into the cage, a Water containing receptacle ar-y ranged Within the casing, and means Whereby the animal is delivered into the receptacle from the cage as the lattery is depressed by the Weight of the animal.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature.

COLUMBUS A. PARRATT.

Within the latter mentioned compartment,

said partition having an opening therein, a pivoted door normally supporting the first 

